social liberalism

noun

: a political philosophy stressing the importance of the government's role in promoting the public good, relieving social and economic inequities, and protecting and supporting marginalized people (as through legislation that is aimed at welcoming and supporting immigrants, reforming racist systems, ensuring legal access to abortion, and expanding the civil rights of LGBTQ people)

… he showed a consistent tendency toward social liberalism, as when he criticised the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, and he oversaw a continued rise in legal immigration.

—Niles Webb

Much of mainstream Anglo-American philosophy of the time [in the 1960s] was abstruse and insular. But [John] Rawls produced a book intended to lay out fair rules for a just society. It was breathtakingly ambitious, says [Catherine] Audard: "He asked: 'what was a reasonable view of justice that a wide consensus could agree on'. … He linked the idea that you would fight for the rule of law for democratic institutions to a simultaneous battle against poverty and inequality. So on the one hand you have political liberalism—defence of the rule of law, formal rights and so on. And on the other hand you had social liberalism, which was concerned with questions of equality, inclusion and social justice."

—Julian Coman

Although Sweden is often seen internationally as a paragon of social liberalism, many of Imam's songs have highlighted the racism, misogyny and homophobia she believes permeate society here.

—Thomas Rogers

The myth of Dutch tolerance may have faded in recent years, but the country still cherishes its social liberalism. Prostitution is legal, soft drugs are available to locals and foreign tourists alike, and the Netherlands prides itself on blazing the trail for gay marriage.

—The Economist

social liberal noun

plural social liberals

a candidate who describes herself as a social liberal and fiscal conservative

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above